The Honest Answer

There's no universal right answer. The rent-vs-buy decision depends on your local market, how long you'll stay, your financial discipline, and your life goals. A longer holding period often helps ownership because it spreads transaction costs over more years, but local prices, rents, rates, taxes, and maintenance still decide the math.

The worst financial move is buying because "that's what adults do" or renting because you're afraid of commitment. Run the numbers for your specific situation. The math doesn't care about feelings.